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President Museveni has congratulated Dr. Misaki Wayengera, a Researcher at Makerere University College of Health Sciences, for his efforts in developing a rapid test kit to diagnose the deadly Ebola and Marburg viruses. Dr Wayengera is an EDCTP Career Development Fellow (TMA2016CDF1545).

“I want to congratulate our scientists because they are really waking up and producing a lot of products. The Government will fund you. It is the issue of prioritization and putting the money in the right place,” he said. The President was on Tuesday speaking during a meeting at State House, Entebbe to recognize Dr. Misaki Wayengera who recently won the World Health Organization (WHO) high innovation challenge in Product Development Category that took place at the WHO Africa Regional Headquarters in Congo (Brazzaville).

Dr Wayengera’s invention also known as Pan-Filovirus Rapid Diagnostic Test, uses a paper-strip test, like the one used in testing for pregnancy. This, however, will be used in detecting Ebola, Marburg and other hemorrhagic fevers. Africa has had several hemorrhagic fever outbreaks especially Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) with the latest and ongoing outbreak currently in the Democratic Republic of Congo that borders Uganda to the West. Rapid diagnosis is important in informing key decisions especially interventions and measures to take in the event of a disease outbreak. If approved by health authorities including the World Health Organization (WHO) and partners, Dr Wayengera’s Pan-Filovirus Rapid Diagnostic Test will go a long way in improving rapid tests and turnaround time for results during disease outbreaks. President Museveni said that the Government of Uganda will support the efforts of the researchers by establishing a manufacturing facility that will enable them to put all the products together. He commended Dr. Wayengera and his team on the achievements realized adding that the research can bring in a host of benefits to society because the products form the core that addresses many human challenges such as hemorrhage fevers and HIV afflictions that immensely affect the world. The President observed that Uganda has, on several occasions, been attacked by epidemics, including Ebola and Marburg, resulting in the deaths of trained preventive workers and wananchi. State Minister for Health, Hon. Sarah Ochieng Opendi, saluted Dr. Wayengera and his team for the innovation saying their efforts will go a long way in easing the diagnosis of viral hemorrhage fevers such as Ebola and Marburg. Dr. Wayengera, on his part, thanked President Museveni for recognizing their efforts and his support.

Grand Challenges is a global family of grant initiatives and partners that strives to equip and empower local innovators around the world to solve the health and development issues that have the greatest impact on their communities. The Annual Meeting, held in a different global city each year, aims to catalyze collaboration to advance innovation for impact (https://grandchallenges.org/#/map). 

Meeting organizers collaborated with a Local Scientific Advisory Committee made up of leading scientific experts from across the continent to nominate and select “Rising Stars” – a group of promising young African scientists whose participation at the meeting was sponsored by meeting organizers.

Congratulations on your selection as a Rising Star!

The XXVIII Interational Workshop on HIV Drug Resistance and Treatment Srategies was held in Johannesburg from 18-20 October 2019.

Dr Fokam (TMA2015CDF1027) gave both an oral and poster presentation and also participated in the expert opinion session.

At the National Forum on HIV, PMTCT and Paedeiatric Care held in Cameroon in September 2019, the same work received the award for best oral abract.

As of October 2019, Dr Faith Osier (TMA2015SF1001) is the president of the International Union of Immunological Societies (https://iuis.org/about/who-we-are/executive-council/) for a three year term.

The International Union of Immunological Societies (IUIS) is an umbrella organization for many of the regional and national societies of immunology throughout the world. As articulated in its Constitution, the objectives of IUIS are:

• to organize international co-operation in immunology and to promote communication between the various branches of immunology and allied subjects
• to encourage within each scientifically independent territory co-operation between the Societies that represent the interests of immunology
• to contribute to the advancement of immunology in all its aspects.

Dr Osier was also recently appointed as a #TOGETHERBAND Amasssador for the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 3: Good Health & Well Being.

This week Dr Osier gave a Spotlight talk at the Grand Challenges meeting held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Congratulations on these great career acheivements!